The Feelies

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The Feelies
The Feelies, as they appeared on the album cover for Crazy Rhythms in 1980
The Feelies, as they appeared on the album cover for Crazy Rhythms in 1980
Background information
Origin Haledon, New Jersey, USA
Genre(s) college rock
Jangle Pop
alternative
Underground
Years active 1977 — 1992
Label(s) A & M
Twin/Tone
Members
Glenn Mercer
Bill Million
Dave Weckerman
Keith Clayton
Anton Fier
Brenda Sauter
Stanley Demeski
Former members
Vincent DeNunzio
John J.

The Feelies were a rock band from Haledon, New Jersey. They formed in 1976 and disbanded in 1992. They frequently played at Maxwell's, a live music venue and bar restaurant in Hoboken in the 1980s. Their first album, Crazy Rhythms (Stiff Records, 1980) was cited by R.E.M. as a major influence. The Feelies rarely worked with outside producers and created shimmering soundscapes with multiple guitar layers that sounded unique compared to the punk/new wave atmosphere of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Their name is based on Aldous Huxley's novel "Brave New World" where in the novel there are theaters where all of your senses are incorporated along with sight, called "the feelies."

Contents

[edit] Early days

Glenn Mercer, Bill Million and Dave Weckerman began playing together in 1976 in Haledon, New Jersey in a band called the Outkids.

[edit] Crazy Rhythms

Original band members Bill Million, Keith Clayton and Anton Fier released their first single “Fa Ce La” on Rough Trade Records in 1980. The album that followed on Stiff Records, Crazy Rhythms, was #49 in Rolling Stone's top 100 albums of the 1980s, and #69 on Pitchfork Media's similar list. Most of the vocals and songs were written and sung by Glenn Mercer.

[edit] Fier and Clayton Departure

After Crazy Rhythms, Fier and Clayton left the band. With the Feelies in limbo, Mercer and Million collaborated with other local New Jersey musicians, forming a band called the Trypes, featuring future members of The Feelies, Brenda Sauter, David Weckerman and Stanley Demeski. Other members of the Trypes, which released one EP on the Coyote label, ”The Explorer's Hold” became members of the band Speed The Plough circa 1982.

[edit] The Good Earth

Reformed as a quintet, the Feelies recorded The Good Earth in 1985 with Peter Buck of R.E.M. as producer. They toured in support of the album as an opening band for Lou Reed as well as R.E.M. that year.

[edit] Yung Wu

The band also recorded the songs of David Weckerman under the name Yung Wu in 1986. The album was released on Coyote Records and was titled “Shore Leave”. The only difference between The Feelies and Yung Wu was that the songs were sung by Weckerman and featured John Baumgartner of Speed The Plough on keyboards.

[edit] Only Life

In 1988 the Feelies signed to a major label and released the album Only Life on A&M Records. The new lineup featuring two guitarists, two drummers, and the bass playing of Brenda Sauter made the album a critical favorite[citation needed]. Mercer and Million also handled the production.

Recently, the title track has been used as the introductory music on the Harvard Business Review Idea Cast ( [1] )

[edit] Time for a Witness

Their final album, Time for a Witness, was released in 1991. The album broke little new ground from Only Life but still earned the band critical praise.[citation needed]

[edit] Film Appearances

The band was featured in a Jonathan Demme movie called Something Wild playing as a high school reunion band. They were not however featured on the soundtrack. Credited as the Willies, they performed bits of five songs, including "Crazy Rhythms" as well as covers of David Bowie's "Fame," and the Monkees' "I'm a Believer". The Feelies song "Too Far Gone" also made it onto a Demme soundtrack with the film Married to the Mob[2]. Million and Mercer were also brought together by director Susan Seidelman to create the score for her film, Smithereens.

[edit] Side Projects & Alumni Bands

  • Wild Carnation featuring Brenda Sauter and her husband Richard Barns (both also of Speed the Plough).
  • Wake Ooloo featured Mercer and Weckerman, and released three albums with both Mercer and Weckerman on vocals.
  • Anton Fier formed The Golden Palominos and has toured with Bob Mould.
  • Stanley Demeski joined and toured with the band Luna
  • Demeski, Weckerman, and Mercer have been playing in a band called the Sunburst with former Speed The Plough members Toni Paruta and John Baumgartner.

[edit] Legacy

The Feelies are remembered as one of the most underappreciated indie-rock bands of the 1980s and to this day have many fans throughout the world. Although the band never sold many records, they are considered to be influential in the indie rock scene today, with a number of current artists citing them as influences.[citation needed] A WFMU DJ once said that they were "The best thing to come out of New Jersey since the light bulb". The novelist Rick Moody has also cited the band as one of his influences (allegedly, he based the punk band in his first book "Garden State" on them).[citation needed]

[edit] Band members

  • Keith Clayton - Bass (1979-1982)
  • Brenda Sauter - Bass and Vocals (1983-1992)
  • Bill Million - Guitars (1976-1992)
  • John J. - Bass (1976-1979)
  • Vinny Denunzio - Drums (1976-1978)
  • Anton Fier - Drums (1978-1979)
  • Glenn Mercer - Vocals and guitars (1976-1992)
  • Dave Weckerman - Percussion (1984-1992)
  • Stanley Demeski - Drums (1983-1992)

[edit] Discography

[edit] Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
US Modern Rock
1988 "Away" #6 Only Life
1991 "Sooner or Later" #13 Time for a Witness

[edit] External links

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